182 



This is anotlier of tlie Annual Bromes, which is comparatively of no value. Damhourney, 

 indeed, says, that at the time it approaches to a state of maturity, it may be useful in dying*' 

 when it can be collected in sufficient quantity. Birds are fond of the seed, and the plants 

 require protection before the seed be perfected, in order to secure a sufficient supply for the 



next year's sowing. 



It maybe remarked from the facts that have been brought forward respecting the Annual 

 Bromes, that most of them, comparatively, affi)rd more nutritive matter at the time they are in 

 flower, than some of the best perennial grasses at the same stage of growth. The reason of this 

 appears, on considering that the whole of the nutritive matter which is accumulated in one year 

 by these annuals, is present in the plant at this period or shortly after, for when tlie seed is ripe, 

 the straws contain but a small proportion of nutritive matter ; and the seed itself contains litlle 



F 



more than the plants afforded at the time of flowering, the diffcience Leing as 7 to 5, which seems 

 to prove that the cuhns and leaves, a little after the time of flowering, contain nearly all the nii- 



r 



tritive matter which passes into or constitutes the substance of the seed. It must be observed 

 that the produce of two square feet of soil was submitted to experiment at the time of flowennp* 

 and the seed produced on the same space of ground, was the quantity made use of in the same 

 experiments, and which gave the above proportion. Most of the perennial grasses have very 

 small seed, and the culms in general are succulent at the time the seed is perfected, which is not 

 the case with the annual species. If the seeds, however, of the perennial grasses are suffered to 

 remain a little while after they are ripe, the culms very soon become dry. The different deo-rees 

 of this property in grasses, may be ascertained in some measure, by a comparison of the quanti- 

 ties of nutritive matter which they severally afford at the time the seed is ripe, as already stated 

 in the foregoing details. 



It flowers in the third week of June, and the seed is ripe about the end of July. 



Agrostis capillar is. Fine-panicle d Bent. 



+ 



Specific character: Panicle hair-like, spreading, flexi 

 loured. Wither. 74? Huds. Anol .^^9.^ 



Obs, 



Culm ascending, from six to twelve inches high, round, very smooth, with three or 

 four joints; leaves very narrow, sheathing the straw for some length ; sheatb-scale mem- 

 branaceous, acuminate ; panicle upright, branches hair-like, somcwbat flexuose ; valves of 



bluntish 



Native of Britain. Root perennial, ' 



Ea^periments.- At the time of flowering, the produce fi-om a sandy loam, is. 



dr. 



Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 



The produce of the space, ditto 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 



64 dr. of grass aiFord of nutritive matter 



The produce of the space, ditto 



qr, 



oz. 



lbs. 



n 



30 3. 



76230 

 20963 4 



4764 6 



1310 3 



3454 3 



2 



3 2 



2382 3 



148 14 



* Rccueil de procedes e,t d'experiences sur les teinturcs soHdi.= ^ ,, , . xt • . ^ « P«r 



fi Q ^ sondes, &c. par M. L. A. Dambourney, Negociant a Rouen. Par. 



1786-8. 



